Former Gettysburg attorney ordered to turn files over

Wendy K. Weikal-Beauchat was disbarred and is currently under investigation.

An Adams County judge Thursday ordered former Gettysburg attorney Wendy K. Weikal-Beauchat to release client files to her former clients and their new lawyers.

President Judge Michael A. George ordered Beauchat and her firm of Beauchat & Beauchat to immediately turn over the files previously requested. He gave Weikal-Beauchat two business days to comply with future requests for client files.

Weikal-Beauchat, a principal at the firm Beauchat & Beauchat at 63 W. High St. in Gettysburg, was disbarred Feb. 21 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. She is facing an investigation into whether she defrauded clients, according to Adams County's district attorney.

George called close to a dozen attorneys into his chambers Thursday afternoon to inform them of his order. He also ordered Weikal-Beauchat to staff her office from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through March 22.

"During the hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the office shall be staffed and shall keep active all telephone numbers and other contact means including websites which have been advertised as part of the firm's marketing with the previous 12-month period," the order stated.

As part of the order, Weikal-Beauchat also is required to make arrangements for a public notice in local newspapers announcing that her firm "shall be concluding their practice effective March 23."

The advertisement is directed to include the paragraph, "If you are a client of Beauchat and Beauchat in pending litigation or other proceedings, you should promptly consult with new counsel to protect your rights.

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Weikal-Beauchat's attorney, Steven Rice said his client is already in the process of providing the files that have been previously requested.

"We intend to faithfully comply with the court order in full," he said. "I do not expect there to be any problem going forward."

Rice would not comment on how many files the order affects or on other matters involving the case.

Last month, Weikal-Beauchat informed the state Supreme Court of her desire to resign, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 215 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement. Rule 215 covers disbarments of lawyers who are the subject of investigations involving alleged misconduct. The court's Feb. 21 order accepted Weikal- Beauchat's resignation and ordered her disbarred.

Under Rule 215, the lawyer's resignation letter is to acknowledge that the material facts upon which the complaint is predicated are true. And the nature of the alleged misconduct is to be specified in the letter. But the resignation letter is not made available for public view.

Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner said earlier that his office has referred a potential criminal investigation involving Weikal-Beauchat to another investigative agency.

Weikal-Beauchat told the Gettysburg Times last month that the issue is a civil matter involving about 20 of her clients and that negotiations on a settlement were in the works.

Beauchat & Beauchat was founded in 1993 by Magisterial District Judge Mark Beauchat, who is the ex-husband of Weikal-Beauchat.

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